TvWonderDigitalCableTuner
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Sony selling the ATI TV Wonder CableCARD tuner all by its lonesome
Although Vista Media Center supports up to four CableCARDs, we haven't actually seen the required ATI TV Wonder breakout box for sale by itself yet -- it usually only comes bundled with a CableLABS-certified Vista Media Center PC. (In fact, from what we hear, OEMs are strictly forbidden from selling them without a PC.) It looks like Sony's ready to bust these things loose, however, because SonyStyle.com is now selling them as the "VAIO Digital TV Tuner" for $299. You'll still need that Vista Media Center PC with the required special firmware to make it work, but those of you itching to add more tuners to your rig -- or just hack away at these things -- might finally be able to make it happen. Just don't blame us of CableLABS's locks prevent you from properly capturing all those delicious high def MPEG-2 streams.[Thanks, William]
ATI stops shipping CableCARD tuners due to bugs, will resume soon
There are a lot of puzzled people out there wondering what the hell the holdup is with the CableCARD PCs that supposedly launched. We have, after all, been promised CableCARD media PCs since Vista's launch in January; a couple early units have made it into the hands of extreme early adopters, but where are all the rest? Well, we finally have some answers from a trusted source close to the situation: ATI's stopped shipping CableCARD tuners to OEMs, and put pressure on its partners to hold off on further sales until it can get some issues worked out. The unfortunate irony here is that the bugs holding untold numbers of potential users back are relatively minor, only affecting switching between digital and analog in a very small number of Scientific Atlanta networks -- in other words, definitely not a showstopper, just an inconvenience. ATI's apparently already got a firmware remedy for the issue and sent it off for certification weeks ago, but once CableLABS is involved you know things aren't going to be pretty (or expeditious). The good news is ATI is expected to resume shipping DCTs at the end of this month, meaning your wait -- which you recently resumed -- will once again be over for those who haven't already thrown their arms to the air and snagged a TiVo Series3.[Thanks, Keith]
Dell prepping CableCARD-compatible XPS 410
So Vista's been out for a little over a month now, yet hardware supporting one of its most anticipated features -- CableCARD compatibility -- is still nowhere to be found; we'd assumed that big names like Niveus and VidaBox would have had products ready at launch, but apparently the certification process is taking longer than they anticipated. Well the good news is that at least one manufacturer is planning to offer a compatible box in the near future: PC Magazine reports that Dell just sent them a pre-production XPS loaded up with ATI's TV Wonder Digital Cable tuner (external or internal is not made clear). The brief teaser article doesn't mention anything about a possible launch window, though, so don't go tossing your Series3 TiVo out just yet.[Via Gearlog]
ATI's TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner hands-on
It was a painful conversation to have with ATI on why we can't just buy a TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner and add it to our soon-to-be-running-Vista PCs, but them's the breaks. Until someone cracks the CableLabs cert process that allows these CableCARD tuners to be used on your current PC, that is. Anyway, we caught some shots of the DCT in action, and it looked great. Smooth cable HDTV and the box was light as a feather. Ugly as sin, but light as a feather. Another snap after the break.
Pictures of ATI's TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner
We wish we had 'em last night, but for the curious here you are: photos of ATI's new TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner box. It certainly looks after-market to us (please oh please let us roll our own Vista CableCARD boxes) but we have a feeling that's just a dream we're gonna have to keep on dreamin'. Click on for another shot.
ATI's TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner announced
Another DCT's been announced, this time by ATI, and this time predictably called the TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner. Although specifics were sparse and pictures were absent, the ATI unit passed CableLABs certification and will apparently be sold with Dell systems as early as January 30th (i.e. when the first round of Vista PCs see their launch). Most interesting big: "It is scheduled to be available... inside desktop and notebook PCs..." CableCARDS in laptops? What a lovely and disturbing thought -- didn't we all just jettison that PCMCIA card slot?
